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October 15, 1885 Miss Rose: 
I would like your company for a drive next Sunday, if you will be so kind as to apply your bewitching skill, by which you always contrive to hold the joker and two bowers against my a
ce, king and queen, to an efficient management of the weather bureau for a few days. I do not know how other people feel, but I think the recent rain is an outrage. If this be blasphemy, I hope you will pray for my forgiveness for I will not. I do not kno
w whether the roads will be smooth enough for a drive next Sunday even if it does not rain. We can probably tell by Saturday afternoon. If I thought you were really in earnest about the skating rink tomorrow evening, I would come down; but I know that you
were joking when you said you thought of going. Will our amusements this winter consist of skating and dancing alone? Oh I had forgotten two hand euchre! Please do not ask me to play anymore, "I can't play." We still have the Shakespearian reading circle
, "an oasis in a desert." When I glance out on the muddy street I think how silly is the opening sentence of this note, but my eye lingers on a dry spot at the crossing and I hope for the best. At any rate if my scheme is a failure, I shall, with your permission, come down some evening ere long, leave my cards at home (will you please to hide yours, and run that tantalizing piano back into the other room?) and trust you for entertainment. I like the word trust. I am glad to think I have a friend that I can trust. I wish I had one that would trust me. I trust I am not using the word trust too often in this connection. I assure you I am not in a humorous vein. There is too much bitterness mingled in the thought of what a wreck this rain has caused. I fear it will take a month of good weather and good roads to put me in good humor again. Probably it would be well to cease thinking of any more drives this fall and begin planning for next summer; the n the rains that fall now would bring no disappointments. What do you think of having a picnic about the 19th of next June a.d. 1886. Do you think it would rain? Would it make any difference if it does? These are questions I hope you will consider and ans wer satisfactorily. Do you think we will have any sleighing snows, or will this mud last all winter? What do you think I will do if it does? Or do you care? If not why not? Goodbye. Yours respectfully I.J. Martin (Page 5) |
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October 15, 1885 Mr. Martin I am grateful for your kind letter and glad you sent it through the post office because it doesn't seem like just a note of invitation but a real letter--and as you know I don't see you very often (about once in two weeks) so it is pleasant to get a few w ords. However, I did see you last night--just the top of your head and a book--and I imagined you looked solemn and that you would not be seen or heard from for another long time. Now if I go on expressing these doubts and doleful forebodings you will her eafter write "think" with two lines [of underscoring] instead of one. I will trust you for the entertainment because I like to listen, but I know why you don't want to play euchre any more. In regard to the drive next Sunday it will give me great pleasure to go and I predict fair weather--am I not hopeful? Perhaps some good angel will help and the sun may shine brighter. Whatever happens I can promise to go to the picnic next June "rain or shine." If we can't go Sunday I shall look for you to com e down some evening. Yes, I was in earnest about going to the skating rink tomorrow night--will you come down? Your friend, Rose Eden (Page 6) |
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October 16, 1885 Miss Rose:
Yes. |
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Eden House, October 18, 1885 Miss Rose: Although you probably understand our arrangements for today, it occurs to me that I hinted in my note that we would reach a more definite conclusion yesterday afternoon. Pardon me for neglecting it, but while I thought of our drive a hundred times, I neve r once thought that any further conference was necessary. I would like to start as early as half-past twelve, though we may not be able to do so. Let us try to get ready as near that time as possible, and I assure you that I shall come as soon after dinne r as I can. I am too cautious to set any time for returning, but I will promise to get back as early as you like, if it is possible to do so. I would suggest that we drive as far as we wish to go and then go back as early as we can. Arriving hom e is a minor consideration to me. Yours respectfully, Ivory J. Martin |
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October 18, 1885 Mr. Martin, I shall be ready at the appointed time and I anticipate a pleasant drive. Respectfully, Rose Eden |
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October [?], 1885 Miss Rose: You remember that the reading circle is to meet at 7 o'clock, this evening, which will make an early call on my part necessary. Miss (Page 7) |
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Belle has been s
elected to read the part of the Duke of Venice, as Mr. Pike has probably informed her; if he has not, will you please to do so, and tell her to be sure to go? I believe Miss Emma was given a part also, but I do not remember what it is. If you were at the
business meeting Sunday afternoon, you know more about it than I do; I was not there. I shall be on time this evening, and please to remember that I insist upon your sisters going along. Respectfully, I.J. Martin |
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October 20, 1885 Mr. Martin, Belle has not returned from St. Louis--if she comes this afternoon she may be too tired to go. Emma may perhaps go to the next meeting. She says she did not know she was a member. Rose Eden |
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October 26, 1885 Miss Eden: I assure you it is a very unpleasant task that I am compelled to perform this morning in telling you that the party I spoke of has been indefinitely postponed on account of the continued illness of Mrs. Little. I send this to you by messenger because it i s important that no delay be made in its delivery, but I insist that you must not make this an excuse for a short reply. So please to dismiss the messenger boy and take your time in reading this and also in replying, if you think an answer is necessary. I would like for you to read it carefully because I do not wish to be misunderstood. I hope you will agree with me that it is my meaning that forms the spirit of the letter and not the tortuous constructions which it is capable of bearing. (But please do n ot keep that boy waiting any longer; if you send a note by him, I swear "by my honor" that I will not open it.) I saw you yesterday standing on the Smyser corner with two other ladies, but you "moved on" apparently for the purpose of avoiding me. (Page 8) |
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(I hope I have unde
rscored the right word.) I think I shall go to church to-night (you must know that I am writing this letter yesterday evening). I am thinking that I have missed a good opportunity for a drive this evening. If it rains before next Sunday I fear I sh
all be tempted to commit suicide. I think, however, that the temptation will be easily overcome. I could not think of missing the Shakespeare readings. We must have the next one a little "closer off"; I don't like such short walks. I am in favor of some p
lace in the east part of town so as to give us an excuse for a circuitous route. Those "horrible saloons" are of some use after all, even if for nothing else than to furnish a hint or reminder of the universal distrust with which the members of my sex are
looked upon by those of yours. By the way, I saw in looking over our exchanges today a quotation from one of the great masters of thought--Cervantes perhaps--to the effect that a man who has not engaged in one or two "genuine" flirtations is not fitted for the serious duties of life, t hat he does not know how to be really in earnest without some such preparation; while a woman who has been heartless enough to trifle with the affections of a noble man, and who has once launched herself upon the ocean of deceit and falsehood, is forever disqualified or disabled to fill the place of true womanhood because of her sensibilities being irreparably blighted. This is cruel philosophy is it not? As it seems a little bit contradictory and as it is our misfortune to disagree on almost every propos ition involving any important (?) religious or moral principle, suppose you believe the first part of the statement and I will believe the last. Or you choose the last and I will try to believe the first, however contradictory it is to my ideas of true ma nhood. I only suggest this arrangement, provided that you think it absolutely necessary for us to disagree upon everything; not that such a state of affairs furnishes any pleasure to me. I wish that I could believe as you do about everything -- that is, I mean that I wish that you were right in all your beliefs. But I hold that every person is to be--must be--his own judge of right and wrong in principles as well as actions; that a disposition to treat as "unimportant" a single atom of divine tr uth (and all truth is divine) is dangerous; that a "united church" has been a curse to every land where it has existed, a refuge for error, a hot-bed of corruption and a foster-nurse of crime; that it is impossible as well as undesirable for the "myriad (Page 9) |
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minded multitude" to agree upon every point upon which they engage their independent thought; but that it will not do to despise or ignore trut
h because all men do not recognize or acknowledge it as truth; that a person who holds his principles as sacred and who is always willing to defend them when assailed is very apt to have the greatest toleration for the opinions of others. I never saw a ma
n or woman who believed in all things as I do. Indeed, I could have no respect for such a one because I would doubt his honesty. Now please do not misconstrue the above sentence. I have sometimes wondered how a person who is as honest as I know you appear
to be could be in favor of a union of [religious] societies by the sacrifice of honest convictions or by the ignorance of principles which are held as dear as life no matter how unimportant they may seem to others. Of course I know it is caused by your t
rue Christian zeal and an honest conviction that such a sermon is absolutely necessary. I am vexed at myself for filling this page with such stuff. I had reserved it for something else but it is too late to begin it now. I fear that you may misu nderstand me. Let me repeat what I think I have said to you before, that I believe your church is just as good as any for those who believe the doctrine it reaches. Belonging to any other church would make you no better (I don't see how it could!) nor any worse; and if you believed every dogma that I would incorporate in my beliefs, I would not value your friendship any higher. I doubt if so high. I could write another sheet but I know you are tired already. I am sorry that our party is a failur e. Next time I will not make arrangements so soon. But then you cannot be disappointed any worse than I am. I doubt if so much. Sometime in the distant "when," we may have some kind of an entertainment. Yours truly, I.J. Martin |
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October 27, 1885 Mr. Martin, I sent the boy away this morning without an answer, knowing that you would not read it after taking such a Shakespearian oath. I am (Page 10) |
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truly sorry that sickness in
the family will deprive us of our pleasure Tuesday evening. Shall I not see you again till our next reading? However, if you believe those statements about "flirtations," we might quarrel. I don't believe either of them--if you really think the first a g
ood plan, my advice is for you to try it immediately unless you have already experienced your one or two "genuine" flirtations, and to do no one any injustice be sure the young lady has taken Celia's advice to Rosalind--I think of one now who would enjoy
that kind of sport, but truly I never thought that of you. Judging from the last page of your letter you must have written it after hearing Bro. Driver's sermon. You certainly think my belief a pleasant one, even if it isn't right, since you express a wish to believe the same way. If you thought as I do, you woul d not give any thought at all to a great many disputed doctrines, because no one knows these things--they only have opinions. Yes I think as you do that every one is his own judge of right and wrong so long as he takes the Bible for a guide--and I would not influence any one to come into the Christian Church unless he had faith in it and sincere too--because a church member who is doubtful and not in earnest had better be out of the church. And if you read the Bible you will find recorded there a prayer that Christ's people might be one. It seems to me if the Christian people in all churches would work together they co uld do more good, and there would be more love, which is religion, and not so much fighting. Write again to Your friend Rose Eden |
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No. 38, Eden House, October [?], 1885 My Dear Friend: I have not had a good opportunity of answering your last note until now. Tuesday evening is the date fixed for our party. Shall we go? Did you intimate that the only reason you regretted the failure of the other one was that sickness was the obstacle? I h ope not; yet your language would bear that construction with less straining than you applied to parts of my letter. "Really I did not think" you were capable of such (Page 11) |
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cruelty as you must have exercised in torturing my poor letter by loading it with such a disagreeable import. "Really I did not think that of you." Please to read my letter again and see if I said anything that would lead or would allow you to conclude that I believe the first statement you allude to. If I did, will you kindly, as Blaine requested Fisher to do, burn the letter; for I assure yo u that I entertain no such sentiment. I hope you will believe me when I say that I have written the above only to show you what I could say, were I disposed to quarrel. I admire the cleverness you display in misconstruing everything I write; but the only objection I have to your letters is that they are too short. I drove out home today (Sunday) and have just returned. I tell you, I had a fine trip. I put on my rubber coat and hatcover; fixed the storm blanket so that it came to my shoulders; then shut my eyes and defied the mud, weather and every other creature. I dashed along conscious of the fact that I was doing my best to sustain our reputation. I understand that you declined going to Mr. Ginn's last Thursday, because it "looked like rain." I hope it is not true. I would have given some other reason. You could have said the kitten was not well, or given any excuse that would not have been so damaging to your reputation for storm-defying bravery (thunder and lightning excepted). I am afraid that I shall not be able to attend the next meeting of the reading circle as that is the night of the Uncle Tom's Cabin entertainment, and it may be the last opportunity of seeing this play for two or three months, at least I hope so. As I am afraid to write on very many subjects for fear of getting myself into as many difficulties, I will close by pleading for justice at least, if I cannot expect charity from you in the future. Yours respectfully, I.J. Martin |
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November 4, 1885 Mr. Martin, Can't you come down? I would like to see you as I don't know what to do. I have been intending to go over to Decatur this week with Ma, and of course I would like to see Hamlet if it can be arranged. As you perhaps want to know right away, will it be conv enient for you to (Page 12) |
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come down now or this afternoon early? If so, you need not send an answer but come and I will be looking for you. Rose |
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November 4, 1885 Miss Eden: For two or three days we have been talking of getting up a party to go over to Decatur tomorrow evening to see Geo C. Miln in Hamlet, and have succeeded in getting the midnight train held for us until after the theater; but most of the party have conclude d not to go. Mr. and Mrs. Ogle started this morning and will be there and come back with the party; the misses Powers talked of going but I hardly believe they will do so. Eden Jennings is going together with a lady, a cousin of his, provided she comes to Sullivan today, as she is expected. Miss Workman is over there and will remain and come back with the party. I have given you the facts, honestly, as they are. You can see there is a probability of having a very small party in going over tomorrow afternoon, but a sufficient number in coming back. (You probably will think, for that reason if for no other, that th ere would be an impropriety in going; if so, of course you will not hesitate to so decide, as I hope you credit me with enough good sense to view the matter in a proper light.) I secured tickets for reserved seats yesterday before I knew so much in regard to the party going, and I thought I would endeavor to get your candid opinion before disposing of them as I thought you might be willing to go. I am conscious of using a great many words to express what little I have said, but I am unwell today and have paid little attention to my rhetoric. To keep you from feeling a kind of triumph in thinking that my sickness is caused by our Whist game, I will say that I think the result of the game was due partly to my indisposition. I was suffering with a terrible headache all evening. As I never count on being ill more than a day at a time, I expect to be all right by tomorrow evening. Yours respectfully, I.J. Martin p.s. Hurrah for Gov. Hill and Gen. Lee! (Page 13) |
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[I.J. Martin note: Hill had been elected Gov. of N.Y. and Lee Governor of Virginia just the day before this letter was written. This note is added 24 years later.]
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November 5, 1885 Mr. Martin, Again it rains, but I feel no regret for rainy days ("always excepting thunder and lightening") are my delight. The weather, however, will be the cause of some trouble to you as you will be bothered with my company over to Decatur this aft ernoon. I hope you have recovered from the bad effects of that game of whist and are feeling much better. You deserved to have a little headache that evening. Hope to see you about train time. Rose |
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[At the top of this letter appears a small flower covered by old transparent paper, together with this I.J. Martin note: This little token lay for 23 years as she had placed it before it was fixed with the transparent paper.] November 6, 1885 My Dear Friend, While you are enjoying "Uncle Tom's Cabin" tonight--imagine what I am doing. At home, very tired, deserted by my Shakespeare friends and not feeling very cheerful. But notwithstanding all this I can find no better way to spend the evening than to write yo u a few lines in answer to your last letter. I read it again tonight and with a better appreciation. Isn't tomorrow your birthday? Then this letter will be a birthday surprise. About this time last night we were having more enjoyment than "little Eva" or "Marks" can give. I shall never forget Hamlet. How thankful I am for such good pleasant times--it is said that we enjoy pleasure more from having some trials once in a while. Are you going to church Sunday? Please come down right soon--b ut if you can't come, then write, won't you? With your ideas of "Fate" what do you think of the events of this week? (Page 14) |
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I will go read a novel and forget. I hoped to have seen you tonight but, of course, you
could not miss "Uncle Tom." Please excuse this short letter and write me a long one--and real soon for I am anxious to hear from you. Good night from Your friend, Rose |
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Progress Office, November 7, 1885 My Dear Friend: Yes this is my birthday, but I had forgotten it in the rush of work that I am engaged in. Thanks for your reminder. You are still cruel to accuse me of going to see "Uncle Tom" last night; I did not go. I took my work to my room last night but I expect th at at the time you were writing, I was trying to make up for the sleep I have lost the past week, every night of which (except Thursday) I went to bed in anguish and arose in despair. I am afraid that I shall have to work tomorrow instead of attending chu rch. You would think so too could you see this huge stack of mail on one side and the pile of blank statements to fill out on the other. I shall be glad to come down, however, and as it will be soon I shall not write "a long letter." Please to excuse the character of my stationery, as I have no better at the office. Yours respectfully, I.J. Martin |
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November 9, 1885 Miss Rose: I shall call on you this evening, if it be agreeable, as early as you will be ready to receive me. I went to church yesterday evening (shall I confess it) expecting to see you, but you were not there. Believe me, I was greatly disappointed. Your never offending friend, Ivory J. Martin (Page 15) |
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November 9, 1885 Mr. Martin, I shall be glad to see you this evening--and please come early. I heard you were at church last night. I ought to have been there too. Truly your friend, Rose |
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November [?], 1885 Miss Rose: If it be agreeable, I shall come at 6:30. Mr. Patterson has just informed me that he will be there this evening, and that he would like to go early enough to play a game at whist. Can you and Belle engage in a game at that time? Yours truly, I.J. Martin |
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November [?], 1885 Mr. Martin, We will be glad to play a game of whist and will look for you and Mr. Patterson at 6:30. Truly, Rose |
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November [?], 1885 Miss Eden: Will you grant me the pleasure of calling this evening at 7 p.m.? I am aware that there is some kind of meeting at the church this evening. If you are expected to attend, or even think of doing so, please to let me know and I shall defer my visit. My reas on for selecting this evening is, that it is the only one I shall have in this week. Yours respectfully, Ivory J. Martin (Page 16) |
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November [?], 1885 My Dear Ivory, I have not thought of going out in the storm--not even to church. I shall make a fire in the parlor immediately so that if you escape the wind and snow, you can find a refuge here. Yours Rose |
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November 24, 1885 Miss Rose: Do you really have any serious objections to attending the ball, Thursday evening, merely as a spectator? Of course you will consult your own pleasure in the matter; but, before you answer, allow me to say that I have no thought of going, myself; but woul d greatly appreciate the honor of your company to attend a party at Mr. Thunemann's the same evening. I fear that the object of the party is to play "yards," but I am not afraid of committing any great sin in your presence. I am very susceptible to the in fluence of "good company," and I believe that pure thoughts and pure motives will hallow any amusement, so far as those engaged in it are concerned. Yours truly, Ivory J. Martin |
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November 24, 1885 Mr. Martin, I must ask to be excused on Thursday evening from attending the "ball" as a spectator, but I am not quite prepared to give up a pleasant game of cards, and will go this once more, hoping I shall not influence any one to do wrong. I know you had a good time Sunday, but it was a little cold for a drive, and I was disappointed and spent the afternoon and evening--well, I won't tell you just how. I will be pleased to have you call early Thursday evening. Truly, Rose (Page 17) |
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Thanksgiving Day 1885 Ivory, It will give me pleasure to take a drive this beautiful afternoon. I can be more thankful for I shall have something for which to be thankful. Rose |
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December 3, 1885 My Dear Friend, Will it be convenient for you to come down this evening at 7? I am going out driving this afternoon and will call at the post office for an answer. Truly, Rose |
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December 3, 1885 Miss Rose: I shall be delighted to call this evening. I did not receive your note until late and so was afraid you would not get my answer through the office. For this reason I send it by carrier. Yours truly, Ivory Martin |
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December 7, 1885 My Dear Friend: Will you be so kind as to tell me what evenings you would like to attend church this week. Mr. Harbaugh says that I ought to adopt the phrase "going out to worship" instead of "going to church" as the former term is more comprehensive; but I think he is o ut of his head, don't you? I intend to go to church every evening this week (excepting, of course, Wednesday evening, which you know is prayer meeting night) if I like Mr. Baker's preaching as well as I imagine I shall. I don't care (Page 18) < /TD> | |
about going alone very often either. Alone is getting to be a frightful term to me.O those days and nights so lonely,I send you a little slip of copy prepared for the local columns this week. It is now awaiting your editorial approval. Please allow it to go in. While it will be good reading for all, none but you and I will know its specific application. Yours in the sacred--what is it, Ivory J. Martin Copy slip: Young man do not be impatient if your ring is not answered immediately. She may be assisting some other caller to escape at the back door. |
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December 8, 1885 My Dear Friend: As I anticipate that you will be averse to going out to worship this evening, I thought I would ask you to go Thursday evening, hoping that the weather will then be more favorable. I would call anyway but you might again object to the way I have been spen ding my evenings. Believe me, I have no objection to such pastime myself. Neither do I care what other people say, so long as my conduct has the approval of my own judgement, and is not condemned by you. I never try very hard to please anybody, knowing th at if I act honorably and am not misunderstood, I shall win the good opinion of all those whose approval is worth having. I shall go to church this evening and report to you at the first opportunity. I wish you were not so anxious to throw away all the intellectual part of religion. You would then enjoy a good old-fashioned Baptist sermon. You think I will become a Ba ptist preacher--not if I can help it. I would rather preach to Campbellite Christians, if there are any when I get ready for the ministry. But enough of this--I have been trying to think what is meant by, yours b.v.m. I have just studied out a translation, but I am afraid it is not the correct one. Let me see--yours b.v.m.--yours by a vast majority. Yours before very many moons. Yours, but v ery mad--probably the (Page 19) |
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last is true just now, if it is I am very sorry. You see I am struggling for information and grappling at every shadow of a solution. I suppose you attended the meeting of the w.c.t.u. this afternoon at the Christian church. Do you think the ladies of Sullivan need such an organization? I know the men are not crying for it. Well I hope you will have a profitable time at prayer meeting t omorrow evening, and please to remember me in at least one of your petitions. I saw you this morning but of course you did not see me. But I had forgotten that you prefer short notes. Possibly I would better sign the other sheet and keep this mys elf. It might keep you in better humor. If you want to answer, the boy has plenty of time to allow you to write a long letter, but if you prefer, you can drop a reply in the office tomorrow. Good-bye-- Yours etc.-- I.J. Martin |
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December 11, 1885 My Dear Friend, On receiving your note I was so glad and hastened to read it, for I thought you were displeased with me last night, and a note would tell me once again that you were not. I am too proud to tell you all my thoughts last night and this morning--how I would like to go away off some where--but I was obliged to take up my duties here at home and go on assuming a cheerfulness. You did right to write me as you have done, since you know best. You think we might be friends, but I fear it will only lead to more anxiety and trouble, of which I have already had my full share; but since I knew you I have had a great deal of happiness, which now seems to be fading away. I am thinking all of the time about you being at home sick, and I would like to go up there and see you, if I were a bird or a fairy. This afternoon I have promised to go to Mr. Harbaugh's at 1 o'clock and practice some songs for tonight--how can I go? I don't feel like singing. What did I do last night to make you think I had changed in any way? Indeed I was feeling badly, but I wanted to see you. You said (Page 20) |
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good bye and that means a lon
g time. I returned the note as you requested and since you regret having written those few words the other day, I shall understand that they were written only in a thoughtless manner and not in an unfriendly way--with no hidden meaning to them. Please write me a few lines sometime and let me know if you are very sick or not. Rose Eden |
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December 11, 1885 My Dear Friend, You are kind to write again for your first note caused me so much doubt and suspense. How could you misunderstand me? Don't you know--have I not proven in many ways that your company is always a pleasure to me? I don't want to go to church tonight. I can' t play--and I am tired and sick enough to stay at home. I shall not go any more if I can help it. I did not mean that your friendship was dangerous -- only I judged from your note that you wished me to understand that we might be friends just as you have a great many other friends and I did not think it possible. I know you would not do me an injustic e--there is nothing I know better than that. I don't want you to leave me in such a way--you are sick and going home, and I shall be impatient for your return. I know you will come down, won't you? and I have so much to say to you--I can't write for indee d I never was so wretched in my life. I believe you--and want you to have faith in me. Yours truly, Rose |
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[IJM note: I wish I had my two letters of this date. The first I suppose was returned to me at the hotel. I was sick abed. It may have been lost, or I may have burned it. The second letter I never saw again. She did not keep it as I cannot find it. I remember this day as the very worst in my life until more than 20 years later. I.J.M.] (Page 21) |
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Progress Office, December 13, 1885 Dear Friend: I have just come in from home feeling very much better though not quite well. Will you be at home this evening at 6? I would have come down this afternoon but I am considerably wearied by the drive. If you would rather I would call some o ther evening soon, please to say so and it will be all right with me. Yours truly, I.J. Martin |
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December 15, 1885 My Dear Friend: I am glad you want to go to church for I have just promised Miss Elder to be there tonight--and my thoughts of heaven will be more happy if--I must let you finish that sentence. Please add whatever pleases you most. Come early this evening. We must not be late to church. Yours truly, Rose |
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December 16, 1885 Dear Ivory, While I was at church last night, I would say your name over and over--not Mr. Martin--and was half afraid you might hear me or read my thoughts, and yet it seemed to me if church were just out and I had an opportunity, nothing could keep me from speaking your name with a great many exclamation points after it. Truly since I have known you I am always keeping myself from doing and saying things that I want to do--how often you shall have no reason to complain of unanswered letters after this. I h ave thought of everything you said last night and know which remark you refer to. You must remember to express the same thought again sometime and explain it--you ought to tell me all about it. Last evening was one of the pleasant times we have had--we ought (Page 22) |
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always to be friends, but I must be content with the present and hope for the future. You know it would be a pleasure to me to see you every evening, but as you never know I am pleased only when I tell you plainly our best thoughts are unexpressed--but I am trying to "learn to labor and to wait." O must we ever have another Friday morning like last? Why shouldn't we have all happiness? My first thought this morning was that I would write you a long letter today so you would forgive the last short one--and since reading your kind words this morning, I feel that there is so much to tell you, but words are so unable to express my wants--I always want a long letter, and you know it, but did not choose to grant my wish this morning. You wanted to punish me that way--but I forgive it--and I can say truly and you must believe me, that I am always happy with you, and I shall be impatient for to morrow evening. I think Elder Griffith will excuse me tomorrow night. I could not tell you last night what you wished to know--I couldn't say the words. I would like to see you now. I am going down to the office and if you see me, very l ikely you will go in Sam Patterson's or somewhere to get away from me--but when you come tomorrow night I will keep you a while. Think of me sometimes. Yours, Rose |
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[I.J. Martin note dated July 20, 1909: I find no written answer of mine to her letter of December 16. But I tried to respond to its sentiments in all my conscious acts toward her in all the years that followed. If there is a conscious existence aft er what we call death, may God continue to shower his blessings upon her. If I knew this to be true, it would ease my sorrow, and if I had faith in a reunion after death, no living man could be happier than I would be. I could wait with patience if I only knew.] (Page 23) |
| Intro | Chapter I | Chapter II | Chapter III | Chapter IV |
| Chapter V | Chapter VI | Chapter VII | Endnotes | Index |